What's There to be Thankful For?

By: Rogue-Slayer13

Summary: See pervious chapters.

Disclaimer: The characters of Btvs and Ats belong to Joss Whedon. Spike's family members and other character you've never heard of before are mine.

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"Are you and Dawn coming to Thanksgiving at Spike's parent's house?" asked Willow as Buffy sat down on the couch.

"When is it?" asked the blonde.

"This Friday at three," replied the red head.

"Dawn will want to go," said Buffy.

"You two should come, you could bring your mom and Giles too."

"Will that girl be there?"

"You mean Fred?"

"Yeah, her," said Buffy sourly.

"Probably," said Willow. "Why, do you not like her or something?"

"I don't really know her, it's just . . ."

"She's with Spike," finished Willow.

"No! Well, maybe, God I don't know." Buffy sighed. "I don't even like Spike and yet here I am, acting all jealous and crap."

"Human nature, you want what you can't have."

"Huh?" asked Buffy.

"When Spike was begging you to like him, you wanted nothing to do with him and now that he's moved on, you're the one doing the begging."

"I guess so," said Buffy.

"So, are you going?"

"So I can watch Spike and his new squeeze have a nice holiday?"

"They're not even official yet," said Willow.

"Still . . ."

"Come for me and Xander?" Willow pouted and acted as if she were going to cry.

"I guess I'll go."

"Great!"

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Eryn and Mary watched from the safety of the stairs as their mother went from a mild-mannered housewife to a slightly crazed cooking machine.

"Is that even Mum?" Mary watched as Anne set the table, cooked the turkey, and mashed the potatoes all at once.

"I think there's some sort of gene that only activates during the holidays that makes married women go crazy," replied Eryn.

"It's the flu shots," said Sam as he came down the stairs.

"Huh?" Mary and Eryn both turned to look at their brother.

"The government has been putting a mind controlling agent in the flu shots for years now," said Sam as he sat down on the steps. "It makes you go out and buys lots of things and cook excessive amounts of food."

"But, Mum didn't get a flu shot this year," said Mary.

Sam was quiet for a moment.

"Ell if I know then, maybe she's finally gone round the bend."

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"Should we bring something?" asked Willow. "Cause I feel like we should bring something."

"Ya don't have to bring anything Red," said Spike.

"What about a pie?"

"I'm sure Spike's mom has a pie," said Gunn.

"Yeah Wills, this is just your pre-big-occasion freak out," said Xander. "You do this before any big event."

"You're right," said Willow as the group left the girls' apartment. "I'm just freaking out is all."

"Everything will be fine," said Angel.

"I think we need a pie."

"Will it make you feel better if we stop and get a bag of rolls?" asked Spike.

"Maybe a little," said Willow.

"Okay, will run by and get rolls and then go over to Mum's."

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"I'm gonna go for it." Sam, Mary, and Eryn had moved from the stairs to the living room where James was reading the paper.

"No, you can't! She'll kill you!" Mary looked over at her brother as if he were insane.

"Yeah, she's vicious," said Eryn.

"Mum doesn't have a vicious bone in 'er body," said Sam as he slowly walked toward the kitchen table where a plate of cookies was sitting.

"She'll kill you boy," said James from behind his newspaper as Sam walked by.

"Come on Da., it's Mum we're talking about 'ere." Samm looked at the newspaper that was hiding his father's face.

"That is no longer your mother in there."

"You're all looney," said Sam. "I'm hungry and I'm going to get a cookie."

Sam strode purposefully into the kitchen and to the table. Anne was busy making the stuffing with her back to him when he reached the table.

"Samuel Wallace, if you so much as breath on one of those cookies, I'll hit you where you stand."

"But, you can't even see me," said Sam in mild shock. "How'd you know I was 'ere?"

"I have my ways," said Anne as she turned to set the stuffing on the counter. "Sides, you're the noisiest child I know. You couldn't sneak up on a deaf mute." Anne smiled and handed Sam a stack of plates.

"What are these for?"

"You get to set the table."

Sam mumbled something under his breath about unfairness in the house as he left the kitchen.

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Anne came into the living room just as Spike and the other's arrived.

"I'm so glad you all could make it," said Anne with a smile.

"We brought rolls," said Willow as she handed Anne the baked goods.

"You didn't have to bring anything, you're practically family dear," said Anne.

"That's what we said, but she felt guilty," said Xander.

"Well, now we'll have plenty of food for everyone." Anne walked back into the kitchen to finish making dinner.

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"Do you have to look like someone died?" whispered Willow as she and the others waited in the living room.

"What do you mean?" asked Buffy.

"Come on Buff," said Xander. "I've seen happier faces at a wake."

"What are you guys talking about? I'm perfectly happy."

"Is that why you keep scowling in the direction of the dining room?" asked Dawn.

"What's scowl worthy in the dining room?" asked Angel.

"Spike and Fred," replied Cordelia.

The group subconsciously looked into the dining room to where Spike and Fred were sitting the table.

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"How many people are coming?" asked Fred as she sat down a plate.

"Just us, my parents, and my sibs," replied Spike as he finished putting the silver ware out.

"Well if that's all, then all we have left is to put the centerpiece on the table." Fred turned and retrieved the mentioned decoration. "I can't reach the middle of the table," said Fred with a laugh.

"Ere I'll do it." Spike took the center piece from Fred and stretched across the table and set it down in the middle. "All done."

"Are you two done already?" asked Anne as she came into the dining room with the rolls.

"Yep," replied Fred.

"I should have you two do this all the time," said Anne as she set down the rolls. "You make quite the team."

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"Can you at least try to look thankful?" asked Dawn out of the corner of her mouth.

"What's there to be thankful for?" replied Buffy as she picked up her glass.

"Oh I don't know, maybe the fact that we're all together and that there's no more bad guys to fight?" replied Dawn.

"I just want to say how happy I am that we can all be together," said Thomas from his seat in between his dad and Spike. "I mean, I've got all of my siblings back once again and some rather new additions to the family as well." Thomas nodded toward Angel.

"At least somebody knows how this holiday is supposed to work," muttered Dawn.

"Will you just shut up about it already?" snapped Buffy.

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To Be Continued . . .

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